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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2020)
BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 New publisher takes the reins at the Hermiston Herald By ALEX CASTLE STAFF WRITER A familiar face is tak- ing on new roles within EO Media Group. Andrew Cutler, who has spent the last 13 months as editor of the East Orego- nian, is stepping into the duties of publisher of the East Oregonian and Herm- iston Herald, taking over the role from Chris Rush. Cutler takes over as pub- lisher on Wednesday, July 1. “Sometimes you have good luck and don’t have to look very far to fi nd the right person,” said EO Media Group Chief Oper- ating Offi cer Heidi Wright. “It’s critical to be able to have someone with the past experience of Andrew to maintain our role in the communities we serve and keep a relevant, refl ective and credible connection to those communities.” Cutler said the past year as editor of the East Ore- gonian has been eye opening but he’s excited to assume the new role managing Cutler operations and to help the paper moving forward. “It’s incredibly hum- bling and gratifying,” Cut- ler said of being named publisher. “The company and its east side papers have a long, proud history, and I don’t take my position and responsibility of continuing it lightly.” Rush is leaving after a little more than two years in Pendleton to move to Ama- rillo, Texas, with his wife at the end of July to be closer to their family in the region. “I am hoping to lever- age my many years of expe- rience in the news indus- try into a possible teaching career at the college level, as well as some other pro- fessional projects,” Rush said of his next steps while speaking highly of his replacement. “Andrew Cut- ler is a consummate jour- nalist and one of the best editors I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. He places high value on accu- racy and telling the full story.” During his time, Rush helped lead the company through its regional transi- tion when it purchased the La Grande Observer and the Baker City Herald in 2019. “These last couple of years — and especially these last few months — have been a challenging time for the newspaper industry, and Chris Rush has been an integral part of helping EO Media Group navigate through these times,” said EO Media Group Vice Pres- ident Kathryn Brown. “We will miss his wisdom and experience, but he leaves the East Oregonian and our sister papers in the region in good hands.” In addition to the pub- lisher duties, Cutler will also serve as the regional editorial director overseeing the East Oregonian, Herm- iston Herald, Blue Moun- tain Eagle, Wallowa County Chieftain, La Grande Observer and Baker City Herald. Cutler will team with Karrine Brogoitti, the regional publisher of the La Grande Observer and Baker City Herald, to oversee the company’s east side pub- lications. In March, Bro- goitti was named regional sales director for EO Media Group’s east side operations. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, and raised in Fruitland, Idaho, Cutler, 48, has long had his roots in the North- west and spent fi ve years as the editor of the La Grande Observer prior to joining the East Oregonian. Cutler got his start in journalism as a senior sportswriter for Ontario’s Argus Observer in 2000 before being promoted to sports editor shortly after in 2001. He then spent time on the Boise State University sports beat for the Idaho Press-Tribune before return- ing to the Argus Observer in 2004 in a dual role as sports and news editor. Cutler later spent time as managing editor of the Capital Journal in South Dakota, where he and his newsroom were awarded the 2008 South Dakota Newspaper Association General Excellence Award for the state’s daily news- papers with a circulation under 16,000. It was the fi rst time the Capital Jour- nal had earned the award in 126 years of existence. Cutler was also a part of general excellence award-winning newsrooms at the Argus Observer and Rapid City Journal, and he led the La Grande Observer to a second-place fi nish in general excellence for the Oregon Newspaper Publish- ers Association Division C category. While in La Grande, Cutler spent three years in a joint role as editor and publisher. “Andrew Cutler’s knowl- edge of Eastern Oregon, and his experience as both an editor and publisher, made him the logical successor to head up the company’s edi- torial team in this region and take on the publisher role here in Umatilla County as well,” Brown said. A 1990 graduate of Fruit- land High School, Cut- ler joined the U.S. Army in 1991 and served as a com- bat medic in Germany, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Hon- duras before his discharge in 1995. He went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree from Treasure Valley Com- munity College in 2000 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in multidisciplinary studies from Boise State University in 2016. Dr. Robert Rolen retiring after 35 years in Hermiston By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR HH fi le photo Umatilla businesses can qualify to receive a one-time grant from the city if they were impacted by COVID-19. Umatilla establishes small business grants HERMISTON HERALD The city of Umatilla has established a grant pro- gram for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Umatilla Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program will provide one-time payments to businesses and sole proprietors with fewer than 25 employ- ees. According to a news release by the city, it is funded in part by funding from the state’s general fund and Lottery Funds administered by the Ore- gon Business Develop- ment Department. Applications can be submitted until July 15 at 5 p.m. and are available at www.umatilla-city.org or at Umatilla City Hall, 700 Sixth St. Funds will be awarded on a fi rst come fi rst served basis. Businesses can qualify for the grant if their prin- cipal operations are within Umatilla’s city limits, have fewer than 25 employ- ees and have not received CARES Act funding, including the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan. They must be able to show that they were forced to shut down under one of the state’s executive orders relating to COVID-19 or they can demonstrate a one month decline in reve- nue grater than 50% in the month of March or April 2020 as compared against January or February 2020. Nonprofi ts with 501© (3) status can also qualify under similar criteria. Inel- igible applicants include passive investments and real estate holdings, busi- nesses delinquent in taxes that were due before April 1, businesses that do not comply with laws, busi- nesses not headquartered and with principals opera- tions in Oregon and busi- nesses not registered to do business in Oregon through the Secretary of State’s offi ce. For more information contact community devel- opment director Brandon Seitz at 541-922-3226 ext. 103 or brandon@umatil- la-city.org. Decades after he fi rst set up shop in Hermiston in 1985, Dr. Robert Rolen has closed his optometry business. “I’ve been thinking about optometry for about 40 years,” he said. Now, he is retiring and clearing out his former offi ce at Grainary Square in Hermiston. His patient fi les have been entrusted to Lifetime Vision Source, where he said he is encour- aging new patients to trans- fer their care. Rolen grew up in The Dalles and got interested in optometry while he was in the U.S. Army work- ing in the medical ser- vices department and get- ting exposed to all different types of medical fi elds. “The optometry depart- ment seemed like they were having the most fun,” he said. After he went back to school and got his degree, he decided he wanted to return to Oregon and become a family eye doc- tor in a smaller town like the one he grew up in. He ended up in Hermiston, Staff photo by Jeanne Jewett Dr. Robert Rolen is retiring from optometry. and said there was plenty to keep him rooted there, from the outdoor recreation to his church community. “It’s a good place to raise a family,” he said. Rolen said a lot has changed over his years in the business, but one thing that hasn’t changed his the enjoyment he has got- ten out of helping people lead a better quality of life through improved vision and eye health. Some optometrists spe- cialize in certain types of eye health, like treat- ing glaucoma, but Rolen described himself as a “gen- eralist” who sees patients young and old for all differ- ent aspects of eye health. “The one that most immediately affects people is they walk into the DMV and can’t pass the eye test, or their teacher says, ‘I think you need some help seeing the board,’” he said. Rolen said he doesn’t actually teach young chil- dren to read, but he can greatly help their ability to read if he can fi x vision problems that are keeping them from being able to see the words their teacher is putting up at the front of the room or showing them on a printed page. He said he had been hoping to work one more year before retirement, but COVID-19 has placed so many restrictions on his ability to practice he decided that it would be better to retire now and hand his patients off to a bigger offi ce. “A family eye doctor is in it by himself, pretty much, but the people at Lifetime Vision Source have plenty of resources and people to help deliver services to people during COVID-19,” he said. Lifetime Vision Source is at 1160 W. Elm Ave. and can be reached at 541-567-6623. HOME MAINTENANCE CENTER 541-567-7534 2055 N First St. • Hwy 395 Hermiston, OR BBQ GRILL Daniel Boone 499 $ Green Mountain Grills BBQ PELLETS Apple • Gold Blend Fruit Wood • Texas Blend PET OF THE W EEK Reece is a very chill & sweet old man that is about 10 years old. He loves to be around his people, but not super cuddly, but he loves to have his ears rubbed. He loves to sit outside in the shade and feel the wind on his face. Reece does have some aging issues, is on a strict diet for his weight and will need regular grooming. Due to his age and health, we prefer he isn’t around young children. EO AND HH OFFICES MEET REECE Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM Eugenio Mannucci, DVM, cVMA • Jana von Borstel, DVM, cVMA Small and Large Animal Care Mon: 8-6 Tue - Fri: 8-5 Sat: 8-12 Emergency Service 541.567.1138 80489 Hwy 395 N Hermiston www.oregontrailvet.com Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, animal shelters need our help more than ever. Please donate to your local shelter, or offer to foster an animal in need. If interested please go to fuzzballrescue.com and fill out an application. If you are not able to adopt, but would like to foster or donate, visit fuzzballrescue.com or you can mail in donations to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838 WILL BE CLOSED JULY 3RD HAVE A FUN AND SAFE FOURTH OF JULY
